Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

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“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  Romans 1:16.

The Gospel is the power of God for salvation.

It is the power of God to unconditionally elect.  (The “U” of “TULIP). 

It is the power of God to effectively atone for every sin of those limited elect so as to effectively redeem every single one of those limited elect.  (The “L” of “TULIP). 

It is the power of God irresistiblably draw every single one of the elect to salvation.  (The “I” of “TULIP). 

It is the power of God to preserve every single one of His elect to salvation.  (The “P” of “TULIP).  

It is the power to enrich the saints with everything.

It is the power to give every good gift.

It is the power to confirm the saints to the end, blameless.

The Gospel is the power of God for salvation.  The Gospel is Good News!

The gospel of the Arminians is not power.

The free-will of man is not power.

Shedding blood for everybody, but not guaranteeing salvation for any one is not power.  Just waiting for man and seeing what man will do in response is not power.

Resistable grace is not power.

The possibility of fall from grace dependent on the free-will of man is not power.

The gospel of the Arminians dependent on the free-will and ability of man is not power nor is it good news.

Why then are those who are embarrassed by “TULIP”?

Why then do they treat “TULIP” as if it is just another doctrine?

Why then do they fail to preach and teach it as if it does not really matter?

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  Romans 1:16.

And, we see the Scripture for today reminding us of this power of God for salvation which enrich the saints with everything, which gives every good gift, and which confirms the saints to the end, blameless.

    The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”  Romans 16:17-20. 

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Those who cause dissensions and hindrances are not easily detected.  They don’t have horns nor wear red.  They don’t wear T-shirts which read:  “Question Everything!”.  They don’t shout to the crowd.  They don’t obviously stir up the crowd to dramatically split them apart. 

Rather, they whisper behind the back.  They tell half-truths.  They listen and smile.  They appear righteous. They appear as “angels of light”;  “they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting”. 

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.  No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”  2 Corinthians 11:13-14. 

That is why Paul urges us to keep an eye on them.  If they were so obvious, we would not need to be so careful.

So, as one example, what teaching does Scripture identify as causing dissension or being a hindrance?

“You were running well;  who hindered you from obeying the truth?”  Galatians 5:7.

The whole book of Galatians warns against the hindrance of seeking to be justified or perfected by the Law.  “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?  This is the only thing I want to find out from you:  did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:1-4.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.  Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.  And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.  You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.  For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

You were running well;  who hindered you from obeying the truth?  This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.  A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.  I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view;  but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.  But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted?  Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.  I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.”  Galatians 5:1-12. 

We can understand how deceptive this hindrance is.  The false teacher can appear self-righteous by showing off his righteousness based on the Law.  The listener can be tempted by the logic (although faulty) that we can only be righteous by our own actions of acting rightly.  

But, there is hope! 

Scripture can make us wise.  Good Reformed creeds, confessions, and catechisms can make sure that we follow sound doctrine and not just be subject to an isolated verse that a teacher hawks. 

Moreover, God is in total control and will soon crush Satan under our feet.  We have the grace of our Lord Jesus. 

Matthew 7:24                                                                                                                          “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Paul concludes with this hope:  “… I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.  The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;  also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.”  Romans 16:1-5.

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The importance of greetings and introducing new people to the regulars in a church can be understood from Barnabas’ example.  “When he (Saul later known as Paul) came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples;  but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.  But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.”  Acts 9:26-27.

Notice the repetition of the command to greet in the following Scripture.  If Scripture deems it so important to make this command so many times, we should pay greater attention to this command to greet and accordingly give it increased weight of importance based on its repetition. 

1 Corinthians 16:20
All the brethren greet you.  Greet one another with a holy kiss.  

2 Corinthians 13:12
“Greet one another with a holy kiss.”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 15:30-33.

“Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints;  so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.  Now the God of peace be with you all.  Amen.” Romans 15:30-33.

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Paul is not alone.  We all need prayer, encouragement, and help.

“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:1-4.

Some of you are prayer warriors.  Be specific in your prayers.  Notice the specific details of Paul’s request for prayer.  Be also persistent in prayer.  Paul requests: “strive together with me”.

Some of you are encouragers.  You know the right thing to say to encourage.  You beam up like the sun and yet are sincere in your encouragement.  You just make people feel better.  People “find refreshing rest in your company”.

Some of you are helpers.  You are wise and skilled.  You provide exactly the help needed.

Consider “the interests of others”.  Pray for them.  Encourage them.  Help them.

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Material things are certainly not as important as spiritual things, but it does not mean that they are unimportant.  “For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.”  “For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.  Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them.”  “Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, …”.  Thus, “the fullness of the blessing of Christ” does not only consist of spiritual things;  it also consists of material things. 

Psalm 84:11
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory;  No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”  Matthew 7:9-11.

1 Corinthians 9:11
“If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?”

Question 27. What dost thou mean by the providence of God?

Answer. The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures;  so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.

Question 28. What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by his providence doth still uphold all things?

“THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES,
AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME.”

¹⁰  Again he says,

“REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE.”

¹¹  And again,

“PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES,
AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM.”

¹²  Again Isaiah says,

“THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE,
AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES,
IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.”

¹³  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:7-13.

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By now, hopefully, you have recognized the trademark of these daily devotions which is the following exclamation:  “But, there is hope!” 

Through Scripture, we are repeatedly faced with both knowledge of what is right and our inability to do right. 

But, there is hope!   

We turn our eyes from ourselves to our God, and we gain hope.  In today’s Scripture, we read:  “IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.”  We also read this conclusion of hope:  “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”